for all those who made it to medical school?

do you remember what was your SAT combined score when you were in high school and what's your GPA?I have finished H.S but haven't started my undergraduate yet because of money issues...anyways I'll go to college next year.I am so interested in medicine, I have volunteered in hospitals, shadowed a friend doc, and I know how exactly medicine career is.
but everyone (especially my parents) are putting me down, saying I won't make it in med school, I'm too stupid and stuff. I usually don't care for ehat they say...but sometimes I do.
I had a 2. 7 GPA in h.s and a combined SAT score of 1400 out of 2400..I would've done better if I was faster...I was TOOOOOOOO slow...I might take it again if I have to. so do you think even if I try my best I won't make it/in to med school?
are you all student doctors out there have 3-4 GPA's and perfect SAT's?
Answer:
At least for most medical schools, SATs are not used. You may be required to provide your SAT scores, but they are not a major factor in the decision.The exception would be a combined BS/MD program where you attend roughly 2 years of college and then enter directly into med school where you earn credits to finish your BS. These are typically 6 year programs.
There are fours components that are usually scrutinized upon applying to medical school in the tradition 4 and 4 track:
GPA
MCAT score
Letters of recommendation
InterviewIn the old days, the college you attended and your major were also important, but much less important today. Likewise, some schools will examine your college transcript and make a minor note about the classes you attended.Applicants from state schools and the Ivy League are both accepted today. But be prepared: your GPA will need to be in the high 3's. And the higher the better.MCAT is the medical school equivalent of the SATs. Except you are tested on:
Physical Science (physics, chemistry and organic chemistry
Biological Science (biology, a little anatomy, a little micro biology, a little histology - but not much this is designed to be taken by someone not already in med school!)
Verbal Reasoning (mostly reading comprehension)
Writing Sample (virtually ignored unless you are a foreign grad)Each of the first three section is graded from 3-15 (well, the highest rank in the Verbal is usually a 13-15 category since the statistics do not allow a more definitive breakdown). The writing sample is graded from J-T. So a perfect MCAT is a 45 with a T writing sample. The average score in each section is an 8. Most med school have an average score of 9 to 9.5 for their matriculating students with the top schools averaging 10's to 11's. See link below.Letters of rec are screened to make sure you are not an ax-murder and that there is nothing to sabotage you.These first the items will sometimes be assigned a numerical grade and summed. If you make the cut, you move onto the next step:The interview can be very dynamic and is often used to determine if you would be a "good fit for the school". It is also a time where you can explain any discrepancies in your folder. "Oh, I left college for two years to volunteer in Africa treating lepers." or "I got fed up and quit before I was investigated for academic fraud" (Obviously certain explanations are better than others). Don't deny it, just explain why and what you did.The general consensus today is that applicants are screened to be bright and academically competent, but also compassionate "people persons". They are trying to get away from the lab geek who got straight A's, ace'd the MCATs, but can communicate with a patient. There are also dispensations for people with learning disabilities. You can receive extra time on the MCATs and med school exams if you have a documents learning disability - but remember you will still be responsible for a huge work load in med school. If you think this may be the case, get tested (there is a website I found below - not sure of the quality, but its a starting point).Be wary, many people who soar through college hit medical school and suddenly learn that they have a subtle learning disability that was only unmasked by the sheer volume of work.Also it is useful to note that there are three types of medical schools. Traditional MD granting "allopathic" med schools and DO granting "osteopathic" med school. There are also foreign medical school where you attend classes offshore. Many grads then try to get into a residency back in the US (where you are termed a "foreign medical grad" or FMG). While there is significant controversy, the pervasive opinion is that osteopathic and FMGs are looked down upon as many consider it easier to get into these schools than the allopathic.Stop no flame-throwers! Regardless of how you get there you are still a doctor and many DO's and FMG's do a great job and can make a great name for themselves...but there are often biases and prejudices that exists in mainstream medicine. Just be prepared.And don鈥檛 quit. Just because you didn鈥檛 get in the first time, try again. There are many people who take the next year to boost their GPAs or retake the MCATs.

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As long as you can get into college and do well, then that is what is important. Medical schools do not ask for high school transcripts or records. They want to see how you did in college. My advice: major in something that you enjoy and will do well in. Everyone who applies to medical school has to take certain science classes, but you can major in anything you want. Med schools like diversity, so really pick anything. Do well in your college classes, especially science and math. You always want to shoot for an A in a class. A lot of schools require that you pass the science classes with at least a C.The MCAT is hard, but it doesn't take as long as it used to. I took the paper version, but now it is on a computer. It doesn't take all day and you will get your scores back a lot faster. You have plenty of time to get ready for this test because you will take it your junior year of college. Take a class at Kaplan or Princeton Review and lots of practice tests to prepare. Good luck!

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Way back in the dark ages (1970's-80's), when I was in high school, we only had the verbal and math scores, and I was in the 1500's (out of 1600). In high school, my GPA was not 4.0, but close. In college, I got some B's but mostly A's, and with moderate effort (sometimes, I studied; most of the time, I just went to class and paid attention). The only C I got EVER (from first grade through medical school) was in Biochemistry in med school.I found medical school to be challenging not in the difficulty of the material, but in the sheer volume that had to be absorbed in very little time. If you have problems with being slow to pick things up, or being slow on tests, you're going to be in way over your head in med school.Medical schools look at your college grades, so that is where you want to shine.You may want to consider an undergraduate degree in an allied health field (like physical therapy or occupational therapy). If you can breeze through that, then you can go on to med school. If you find that difficult but can still make it through, then you have a degree which will help you get a good job, still working with patients in a medical setting.Good luck to you.

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